SJM Resorts Announces One-Month Salary Bonus for Employees in January 2025

SJM Resorts Ltd, the Macau unit of Hong Kong-listed gaming operator SJM Holdings Ltd, has announced its employees will receive a "special discretionary bonus" equivalent to one month's salary. The announcement came through a social media posting by the gaming labor group New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association.

The post, quoting an SJM Resorts' internal memo signed by Managing Director Daisy Ho Chiu Fung, stated the bonus would be paid on January 20^th, 2025. The bonus will cover staff in the company's multiple gaming operations, including the Lisboa and Grand Lisboa properties in downtown Macau and Cotai District's Grand Lisboa Palace.

Bonus Season Kickoff

SJM Resorts is the first of six gaming operators in Macau to reveal their discretionary bonus plans for 2025. The incentive will benefit nearly 98% of the company's employees, underscoring its dedication to staff recognition.

In the memo, the casino operator emphasized that the bonus is a show of gratitude for employees' "contribution and outstanding performance." Speaking to a local reporter, Daisy Ho stated, "SJM Resorts continuously optimized and innovated its products and service experiences in 2024, achieving steady improvements from the hard work of every team member."

Positive Recovery Trends

In 2024, Macau witnessed a significant market turnaround, resulting in remarkable revenue boosts, driven by events like Macau Golden Week and a stimulus package from China.

Official data indicates an 8.2% year-on-year rise in average monthly salaries for employees by the end of Q2, averaging MOP26,750 (about US$3,349). Local workers received an 8.1% pay rise, while non-resident employees saw a higher increase of 14.1%.

Anticipation for Salary Updates

Salary increases in Macau's gaming industry are often determined by the government's decisions on civil service pay. Usually, the outcomes benchmark the ballpark for private employers, including casino operators.

In 2024, all six major gaming operators in Macau offered their employees a one-month salary bonus and a 2.5% pay increase. This indicated a positive shift in the sector after four years of crickets due to COVID-19's economic impact.

Under former Chief Executive Ho Lat Seng's leadership, Macau's government did not propose salary adjustments for civil servants in the 2024 budget. The decision is now in the hands of Sam Hou Fai, the new Chief Executive, who began serving his term on December 20^th, 2024. Sam is expected to clarify his stand during his 2025 Policy Address, which is expected early next year.